Method and means of mechanically separating slimy substance from fiber stock



Feb. 12, 1935. R. T. LANG El AL 1,990,992

METHOD AND MEANS OF MECHANIGALLY SEPARATING SLIMY SUBSTANCE FROM FIBER STOCK Filed April 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

' mvawoas mmmv- Feb. 12, 1935. R. T. LANG ET AL 1,990,992

' METHOD AND MEANS OF MECHANICALLY SEPARATING SLIMY SUBSTANCE FROM FIBER STOCK Filed April 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 we N'YORS mmxyvmuewmemwAuaR rm'rnon aNnj MEANS or irmeninsroaraor saranarrne senior salesperson FIBER screen Richard 'll. Lang and Wilhelm ll iraler, ldlelilenheim on the hrenz, Germany, assignors to American Voith Contact filo inc, New :Yorh, N. Y a corporation or New llorls Application April 26, 1934, Serial No. lftfihiih In Germany August t, 1933 16 Claims. (or. ea-ec) The invention relates to a method and means Figure 2 is a longitudinal section in part showof mechanically separating slimy matter coning separate discharge openings for the slimy subsisting of glue and resin etc. from the fibres oi stance; ground wood pulp or similar fibrous mixtures. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the Heretofore, the separation of the most desirfibre washer of another form with open design 5 able quality of fibres used in paper making from impeller; the coarser material as tailings, knots or slivers Fi e 4 is a C -Sectio at right angles to was accomplished by separators equipped with a the washer shalt, taken on line l-4 of Figure 3; perforated sheet metal plate. By this means, the and o fine fibres pass through the perforations, where- Figure 5 shows a partial section of a water as the tailings and slivers are retained and re supply in the whipper plate. moved at one end of the circular plate. Inem- Similar characters of reference indicate correciency in results was one defect of these mesh-1 Spoilding parts throughout the Various Viewsanisms. This invention has for its purpose to Referring to t drawings, the fibre Washer obtain a fibre stock substantially entirely free of 0 is p v With it ilfliifiontfll Shaft and 15 this slimy matter adhering to the former. has secured to it a runner 12, havin an in The object of this invention is not to segregate pou 3 d discharge n t A Wi mesh 5 the fibres into those of fine and coarser quality Similar to the known p p machine Wife, as in the mechanism just referred to, but to sepu ds th u r l2 a d is qu pp d it h w arate the fibres from the slimy substance, as glue p p 16 and Wing pp plates The 20 and resin etc, such as adheres to the ground wood Shower Water is supplied to the Shower ip 16 pulp, or similar fibrous mixtures. through the shaft l1. The continuous surface A screening machine carrying out the stated or this wire mesh is interrupted at several places object of the invention, is equipped with a wire y Solid areas Circular other p placed mesh impassable for fibres, on the inside of which either circumferentially as Shown in F s. 1 and 25 a washing process of the slimy substance and fibre longitudinally as ShOWil in Figs- 3 d material takes place, created by subjecting the Which-are designed as ti'ollghs into which liquid mixture to a pulsating action and a power- Water for the pu p of diluting and agitating ful stream of shower water. the fibre stock is supplied by the shower pipes 16.

go A further feature of the invention, i th pro- An outlet '18, which in accordance with the standvision of partition walls in the circular space design 0? Screens ay be a ta d o 0 16 01 outside of the wire mesh and corresponding to other Side Of the frame has for its p its various zones, each partitioned off section hav- D to discharge B211 Collected slimy b a c ing its own outlet. This may be carried out at separate places in ac- The invention consists further in the improved cordance with the amount of slime contained i 35 method of separating the slimy substances from the q that p the Space Where the fibres thereof of a stock ontained i ground the slime is collected is subdivided at various wood or other similar fibrous mixtures, in which places Providing p i fl Walls 19 w en the highly diluted fibres are separately washed the Wire mesh 15 and the frame 10 as Shown in 4o under progressive movement and under pressure, 2. Each Section thus partitioned Off has its 40 whereby the slime is forced through screens, and Separate Outlet the fibres removed therefrom, separately dis- While the slime contained in the fibre stock is posed of. separated easily and in large quantities at first,

The fibres thus separated are washed very as soon as it reaches the wire mesh 15, the fibre clean, and as the fibre solution has the proper stock travelling along its circumference looses 45 consistency, it can be used immediately. The more and more of this slime and it becomes washing action obtained is very high and amount more dificult to separate it. It is, therefore of Water used is y wadvisable, as shown in Fig. 2 to locate the troughs Embodiments of the invention will be hereinof the fibre washer closer together and decrease after described with the aid of accompanying the length of the open wire mesh towards the 50 drawings, a the inVentiOn fi a y pointed out discharge end of the fibre stock. The shower in the claimspipes may also be attached to the runner 12 in a In the accompanying d awi gs, manner similar to a hoop, in order to secure an Figure-1 is a longitudinal section through the intensive shower efiect over the entire surface fibre washer with common slime discharge; of the trough. The whipper plates 37 are car- 55 ried very close to the wire mesh in order to loosen the layer of fibre stock deposited thereon. It furthermore would be permissible to have these plates designed as hollow shower pipes, parallel to the shaft and disposed very close to the screening surface as shown in Figure 5.

In cases where the wire mesh 15 as fine as it is required is not strong enough to resist the pressure of the liquid, it is secured upon radial rings 21 and can be reinforced by woven-in wires. The rings 21 made of this material are interconnected by plates 22 and braced against the frame 10, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. ,In its entirety, it resembles a basket of sturdy design which offers ample passage and discharge for the water containing the slimy substance. The fine wire mesh similar to the screen plates of standard design can easily be removed and cleaned. The washing zone is intersected by a circular trough 1'? in which the retained fibre stock is collected and agitated until it is reintroduced upon the wire mesh. The washing action in the trough 17 can also be accomplished by means of wash water introduced from the outside, supplied to the trough 17 by pipes 23 and used for washing and agitating the fibre stock. The runner 12 can also receive its wash water through pipes 24 entering the inside. of the runner parallel with the shaft 11. The holes 25 in the circumference of the runner are located very close to the whipper plates. 27, so that the water issuing from the former can cause a mixing and washing action upon the fibres loosened from the wire mesh. The slimy substance can be removed on top through outlet 18 as shown in Fig. 1, or on the bottom of the machine through trough 26, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The washed fibre stock depending upon the place where it is to be used again is discharged parallel to the shaft either on top or on the bottom of' frame 10 through outlet 14 and is removed by trough 30 of Fig. 3.

There is a certain amount of material on the screen. As the whipper plate rotates, it moves a mass of material in front of it. This mass causes a compression on the material deposited on the screen, and thereby forces the slime through the screen, immediately at the rear of the whipper plate; where there is no mass of material, there is no compression, but a suction therethrough increases the volume, and at the same time liquefies the mass.

This pulsation iscaused by a runner rotating on the inside of the wire mesh which may be equipped with cleats or have any other form to answer the purpose. According to the invention a satisfactory separation of the slimy substance from the fibre material, when handling large quantities of liquids as is required under economic operation, can be accomplished by a temporary deposit of a thin layer of stock fibres upon the wire mesh which is squeezed out by the pressure under which the shower water is applied to the wire mesh, washed out, removed and redeposited again. This cycle is aided by curved recesses and solid sections in the surface of the wire mesh in which the stock fibres are mixed again with water, diluted and agitated by powerful shower water jets and subjected once more to the washing action before proceeding to the following zone. During this cleansing process which takes place radially as well as parallel to the axis of the machine, the fibre stock while advancing towards the outlet is washed more and more and the slimy substance on this spiral-like path is found to be entirely removed at the end.

The solid and non-perforated recesses in the surface of the wire mesh are preferably constructed as circular troughs curved towards the outside, representing interruptions in the continuous surface of the screen cylinder. The necessary shower water is supplied to them from the inside or the outside by means of shower pipes. These recesses can be spaced more closely together towards the discharge end in order to intensify the washing action.

The slimy substance in these various zones is deposited in varying densities and it becomes desirable to re-use it in that condition.

It will be noted that the inlet 13 supplies the stock consisting of fibres and slimy material to one end of the runner 12, which has this end closed off, so that the stock is compelled to pass on the outside thereof. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the exterior contour of the runner is conical in shape, and in consequence, themass of greatest extent is operated upon at the incoming end of the runner. As the mass passes inwardly over the runner, the slimy part thereof passes through the screens, and a more and more condensed mass of fibres separated from the slimy part passes outof the space between the runner and screen, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, indicated by 28, and then passes out of the conduit 14. The mass is subjected to repeated washings in Figures 1 and 2, within the circumferential cup-shaped portions 17, which are acted upon by the jets emanating from the pipes 16. The whipper or wing plates 2'7 are arranged closely adjacent to the screen. Thus by centrifugal action of the wing plates 27, the slimy material is forced through the screen, particularly due to the action of the separating water, and the fibres which are of lighter specific gravity, are retained without passing through the screens, the screens having a mesh preventing the fibres from passing through the screens, and the fibres assemble and move longitudinally of the runner towards the outlet 14.

In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, the runner is not of conical shape, but is closed at the incoming end, this action being as just described. At the forward side of the wing plates 2'7, there is a compression of fibres, and at the rearward side, a suction action, which loosens the fibres from the slimy material. The direction of rotation of the runner is shown by the arrow 29.

The improved method consists in subjecting a mass of stock material to the action of centrifugal forces, and simultaneously to a water liquefaction, while moving the mass longitudinally through the machine, whereby the slimy material is separated from the fibres, and is discharged from the machine as separated, while the fibres are retained and collected and free from such slimy material are discharged elsewhere from the machine. A further step in the method, is the washing out of the slimy material, in zones.

The shower pipes attached to the runner may be designed in conjunction with wing extensions. The runner itself furthermore may have an oblong shape or any form which is a departure from the true circular design whereby a pressure and suction effect is created upon the fibre stock near the wire mesh and at regular intervals.

The .wire mesh itself, contrary to practice of the standard screen, is secured to a frame work consisting of upright bars which are supported by ribs parallel to the shaft and radially arranged over the circumference, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. c

The fibre stock produced on this machine in large quantities and in accordance with the invention, is washed very clean and, since it has the proper consistency, can be used again immediately.- Based upon the unit of effective wire surface the washing action obtained is very high and the amount of wash water used is very low. Variations in the stock supply or the speed of the runner have no effect upon the operating results of the machine. This dependability makes it very suitable for practical operation particularly too since clogging up of the wire mesh is avoided. This reclaimed new kind of fibre stock and the slime can be utilized for their respective different usages.

Various embodiments of the invention have been described, and shown, but it is clear that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The method for mechanically separating slimy substance from fibre stock contained in ground wood or other similar fibrousv mixtures, which consists in repeatedly washing the fibres in highly diluted state, and subjecting the same to centrifugal forces, whereby the slime is separated from the fibres, and the slimy material and fibres are separated from each other.

2. An apparatus for separating slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprisng a runner, a screen surrounding the same, and a washing zone member interposed between parts of the screen.

3. An apparatus forseparating slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a runner, a screen surrounding the same, and a plurality of washing zone members interposed between parts of the screen.

4. An apparatus for separating slimy material v from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a runner, a screen surrounding the same, a washing zone member interposed between parts of the screen, and shower pipes for the supply of wash water into the zone member.

5. An apparatus for separating slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a runner, a screen surrounding the same, a washing zone member interposed between parts of the screen, and shower pipes for the supply of wash water into the zone member in which the shower pipes are disposed either parallel with the shaft of the apparatus, or at right angles thereto.

6. An apparatus for separating slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a runner, a screen surrounding the same, a washing zone member interposed between parts of the screen, and radial partition walls disposed in line with the zone member, forming separate channels for the fiow of the removed slime.

7. An apparatus. for separating slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a runner, a screen surrounding the same, a plurality of washing zone members interposed between parts of the screen,

said washing zone members being separated by decreased distances towards the discharge end of the apparatus, in a direction parallel with the shaft.

8. An apparatus for separating slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a runner, a screen surrounding the same, and'a' washing zone member'interposed between parts of the screen, said screen having a fine mesh, smaller than the fibres, to prevent the fibres from passing therethrough.

9. An apparatus for separating slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a runner, a screen surrounding the same, a washing zone member interposed between parts of the screen, said screen having a fine mesh, smaller than the fibres to prevent the fibres from passing therethrough, and a reinforcing frame surrounding the screen or wire mesh, consisting of rings radially arranged, and secured to the screen.

10. An apparatus for separating slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a runner, a screen surrounding the same, a washing zone member interposed between parts of the screen, said screen having a'fine mesh, smaller than the fibres, to prevent the fibres from passing therethrough, a reinforcing frame surrounding the screen or wire mesh, consisting of rings radially arranged and secured to the screen, and additional reinforcing means formed by bars parallel with the shaft, and out of contact with the screen.

11. An apparatus comprising a shaft, a runner on said shaft, having its incoming end closed, wing plates on the runner, a water supply for the runner, and a screen or wire mesh circumferentially surrounding the runner, and in close proximity to the wing plates, whereby the slime is separated from the fibres.

12. An apparatus comprising an inlet for a stock material, a shaft, a runner having its incomeng end closed, wing plates on the runner, a water supply for the runner, a screen circumferentially surrounding the runner, and in close proximity to the wing plates, said wing plates and screen being longitudinally disposed in parallelism with each other, a water zone member disposed in the screen, an outlet for the slime separated from the fibres, and an outlet for the fibres separate from the slime outlet.

13. An apparatus comprising an inlet for a stock material, a shaft, 2. runner on said shaft having a conical shape with its smallest diameter at the inlet end of the runner, wing plates on the runner, a water supply for the runner, a cylindrical screen circumferentially surrounding the runner secured to the frame of the machine and in close proximity to the wing plates, said wing plates and screen being longitudinally disposed in parallelism with each other, a water zone member disposed in the screen, an outlet for the slime separated from the fibres, and an outlet for the fibres separate from the slime outlet.

14. An apparatus for separating 'slimy material from the fibres of a stock of ground wood or other fibrous material, comprising a frame, a screen supported by the frame, a runner having aclosed end, plates on the runner in proximity to the screen, and a waten supply for spaced portions of the screen for subjecting the stock to a liquefying action while under the action of the plates on the runner, the mesh of the screen permitting passage of the slimy material "of .the, stock but preventing passage of the fibres of the stock.

15. The method for mechanically separating slimy substance from fibre stock contained in ground wood or other fibrous mixtures, which consists in subjecting the stock to repeated washings with water, under the action of pressurennd centrifugal forces, while moving the stock along a separating member for allowing its slimy substance to pass therethrough, while impeding the fibres of the stock.

16. The method for mechanically separating slimy substance from fibre stock contained in ground wood or other similar fibrous material, which consists in subjecting the stock to a pulsating action through zones of water dilutions, for separatingthe liquefied slimy substance from the fibres, and then independently of each other con veying off the slimy substance and the fibres.

RICHARD T. LANG.

WILHELM THALER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,990,992. February 12, 1935.

RICHARD T. LANG, ET AL.

It is hereby, certified that errorappears in the heading to the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Line 10, date of filing in Germany, for "August 8, 1933" read August 12, 1933; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform, to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of March, A. D. 1935.

Lee I ie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

